candiecooper, Author at Candie Cooper

Vintage button necklace…

May 2, 2011 By candiecooper 3 Comments

This is what you get after watching a night of royal wedding coverage. I'm serious! It all happened so subconsciously. A pretty vintage button, a few crystals, some nostalgia and blingo! And besides, anything to use a vintage button for jewelry, right? To make this I used a large Katiedid component, Beadalon gunmetal chain, button with round shank on back, Swarovski crystals, 3mm coral beads, and a Vintaj Arte metal leaf charm. Also, I sanded the Katiedid and put a coat of liver of sulphur on it….to antique it a bit, you know?

The button with a round shank on the back made it so I could string it just like a bead with the same head pin it's hanging from. Use a touch of tubing on both sides of the shank to center it—no adhesive required (jic you want to use your button for something else later on). Ok?

I've always loved vintage. If I was going to prom, I would wear this little gem. Or the Royal Wedding for that matter. Hey, a girl can dream!

Filed Under: Beads, fabulous, Friends, Jewelry

Dragonfly necklace…

April 25, 2011 By candiecooper 1 Comment

I hope you had a great Easter! I've heard lots of good stories from others who had wonderful weekends with their family. I love that. I helped with an Easter event on Saturday, had dinner with friends, family all day Sunday. I came home wound up from Easter, so I started cleaning my studio and painting. It was great! Dare I say a never ending weekend! That never happens…ok, it does from time to time.

This is my Evolution necklace. I actually made it back in college, but it looked much different than it does now. Very shiny, two chains on either side and that's about it. I re-did it last year because, well, I didn't like it anymore. One of my favorite things about creating is seeing the change over the years…..our objects we create are a journal of sorts documenting what appeals to us at that particular time. It's astonishing to me that even as adults, we can grow and change. The dragonfly is actually cast in sterling from a real (but dead) dragonfly I found on the way to class one day.

Here's a detail of the chain. It's a loop in loop chain. I learned from this book (I'm 90% sure) and the process itself is really interesting. If you like chain maille, I know you'll lovvvvvve this!

Ok, it's back down to the studio I go. I'm knee deep in project creating for my new book. Excited!!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Beadalon & Katydids Beading Contest

April 19, 2011 By candiecooper Leave a Comment

Hello there! Ok, so ever since I had to get my driver's license last week, I've been thinking about how to smile without showing your teeth. That's the rule now—can't show your teeth in your driver's license picture because of photo recognition. How messed up is that? Whatever. Actually teeth has been the theme around here it seems. Strange. Over the weekend I bought a shoebox full of junk jewelry for $1, but in the mix of gems was also Grandma's bridgework. Yowza. I cringed when I saw the teeth and metal…………tangled in chains. These are the days of a jewelry maker's life. Crazy. Also, I've had Gaga's Teeth song blaring down in my studio. It's catchy. Believe it or not my aunt introduced me to it. Play with smiles and pictures over on PhotoFunia! Show your teeth…or don't–it's fun either way.

In other news, my girl Katie Hacker is having a beading contest. See those sweet little rings in the drawer? Those are Katydids! This is a fun, easy challenge to see what you can fill your Katydid's components with. Resin, clay, beads, paper, Mod Podge, you name it! Make it super simple or extra complicated. The winning loot Beadalon and Katie are giving away is worth a try, people! I know it's scary to put your work out there sometimes, but this is a chance to be brave. What do you have to lose? I started fiddling with some pieces this morning. Now I just need a little bit more time to finish up. 😉

*P.S. I've seen Katydids at Michael's Craft store and they come in different shapes.

Filed Under: Beads, Crafting

Riveting Class with Me

April 14, 2011 By candiecooper Leave a Comment

Hello there from my cabin (which is about to blow away) out here on the prarie. It got cold this evening, so I built a fire to shoo away those last bits of winter. I'm pretty sure it's going to work. The above is a simple little pendant I created for this video. The layers are held together with a tube rivet. I love tube rivets more than apple pie with ice cream! They are my absolute favorite rivet. The rivet of all rivets. There is a simple soldered bail on the back side that I also show in the video.

If you want to learn in person, I'm teaching a class on riveting here in Wabash. Do you want to come? It's going to be a good time! I love showing you all my tricks for connecting things that cannot be soldered. Check out the class HERE! And feel free to email me with questions!

I'm off to have a cup of tea and enjoy the fire. I hope all is cozy and well where you are. Before long, we'll be sitting outside around the fire!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Rice Krispie Treat Nests

April 12, 2011 By candiecooper 1 Comment

This is an ol’ family favorite treat. My grandma has made these every Easter for as long as I can remember. She puts a basket of individually wrapped Rice Krispie Treat Nests out and we nibble on some and stash a few in our tote bags for later. They are especially good for Monday morning breakfast because it’s a little piece of the weekend to soften the blow of the work week.

There are lots and lots of versions for how to make them—see picture ideas here. I use the original recipe and keep my hands super buttered when forming the little nests. Drop in some Jelly Belly’s for eggs and wrapem’ in pretty cellophane. Grandma puts Easter grass in the basket, then lays them on top. Super duper cute and yummy!

Filed Under: BAKING, fabulous, Food and Drink

Flower Ring

April 11, 2011 By candiecooper Leave a Comment

I'm sitting here tonight with the window cracked listening to the tree frogs chirp away. Sigh. Wonderful. Earlier the coyote were howling and as creepy as that sounds, it's also nice to be surrounded by nature (sans the orange lady bugs that are about to make me crazy pinging into every window and light bulb). I'm lucky to live out here with the critters. Yesterday I planted some flowers and moved the wood pile to the back of the cabin. Yes, of course I woke up a little sore. Now Rocky is sitting on the couch behind me prrring/growling under his breath to let me know he'd like to be held. Rocky does this from time to time. He's VERY intimidating, like the coyote, so I shall oblige.

This is a ring I made using sterling, copper, felt, and printed tin. The flower is roll printed with a dried hydrangea bloom on thin copper. Lace, stitching….sweet, simple.

Filed Under: Jewelry

Easter Egg Craft Idea…

April 8, 2011 By candiecooper 1 Comment

This week at Crafty Book Club we decorated paper mache' eggs and we had FUN!!!

(like we always do)

Inspiring craft books centered around Spring, eggs and flowers! I love our library for letting us have this crafty club.

Gather up your Folk Art paints, Extreme Glitter, flowers and leaves, scraps of ribbon and chenille chickadees. This is a great craft to use up odds and ends in your stash. Old clip-on earrings, felt scraps cut into leaves, birds and buttons are all great embellishments! If you got it, use it!

I also put out a display of retro eggs that my mom made years ago. The pink bunnies are so sweet. And who doesn't love vintage images Mod Podged on simply colored eggs. All through the night we shared easter egg stories. Tales of "Leg" hosiery eggs filled with money and broken eggs emerged…

Two of my favorite teen crafters tried out the Hot Glue Gun Helper mat and tools. They loved it! Have you seen this tool? It's awesome! Compatible with so many types of glues and crafting. Check out the video about it here!

So many button choices….so little egg surface. Stencil spouncers are great for making polka dots on the eggs.

So pretty! The one on the right has metallic Folk Art paint with blue and purple Extreme Glitter brushed over it. Now that's an egg that knows how to party!

Blue chick and felt flowers are from Hobby Lobby in the Easter crafting aisle.

Complimentary colors of lavender and yellow–works every time!

Decisions, decisions.

The row of crystals on the butterfly was brilliant!

My Mom taking the Hot Glue Gun Helper on a test drive while working on her egg. She loved it!

She painted the polka dots on her egg to match the ribbon! So cute!

Aqua and brown are never wrong!

It took approximately an hour and a half to make this project. There were lots of hair dryers and hot glue guns plugged in around the room and that helps to speed things up.

My Mom's egg with a pair of sweet pink chicks.